Weighing scale



Juy 19, 1949. J, M BENJAWN 2,476,399

WEIGHING SCALE Filed Maro-h l5, 1946 Arron/VER Patented July 19, 1949 UNITI-:D STATES PATENT orifice agresse WEIGHING SCALE Jael Malvern Benjamin..L Friedl-igea.. Re. Appiicatinn March 15, 194e, serial No. @sans 4 earns. (c1. gastro) This invention relates to scales, and particular` ly to weighing scales for articles such as letters and the like, although not limited in its application to articles o f this order of magnitude.

It is among the objects of this invention; to iinprove the art of scales; to provide a scale of a highly ornamental nature in the simulation ofan animal, bird or sh or the like as an enhancement of the ornamental nature of the device; to provide a new and novel system of operation of scales; to provide scales which are free from springs and the like and which are so free from wear as to retain accuracy over long periods of use; to provide scales utilizing a shortening moment arm for balancing eifects; to provide an accurate scale of eiserne` cheapness of manufact ture; to provide a scale composed of only three parts, to Wit, a balancing frame assembly, a weighing pan and a pivoted indicator.` Other` objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this description,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective of the scale according to an illustrative embodiment thereof, showing an article'the weight of which is to be determined, such as a letter', in dotted lines, and showing the parts of the scale relatively adjusted to give a reading ofthe weight of sueh article.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the saine in a condition of balanced rest with no Weight on the pan.

Fig. 3 represents an end oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a section taken online teli of Fig. 3.

It will be understood that the invention may take strictly utilitarian forms having no similitude to any other articles, but for general purposes the scale is preferably so disposed as in silhouette to represent birds, beasts, sh or the like, according to preference, and in the illustrative case given, represents a more or less conventionalized fish. The scale assembly is formed with a pair of spaced side plates I and Il, disposed in spaced preferably parallel relation and each having an enlarged rounded portion I2 of considerable vertical area to receive calibrations to be described, having a slot I3 in the edge simulating a conventionalized mouth of the sh at one end. The plates may each be provided with a suitably placed aperture 9 simulating a conventionalized eye of a sh. The enlarged head portions I2 taper into attenuated rearwardly extending body portions I4, respectively leading upwardly into elevation of the device 2 upstandillg liar-ing'. tail portions I The side plates are. respectively 'provided with like. lower curved rolling surface I5 upon which the respective spaced side plates and thus the assembly resta side plates l0 and I i at the forward ad are connected rigidly together, toward te@ uppernQr-tlrls "bv arcuate. sheet metal bridge member {1 -0f generally the same Curva" ture as the upper edge I9 "ofthe respective side plates I0 and IhI, altheugn preferably spaced radially inwardly therefrom for strength and appearance. `The forward ends below the sheet metal connector or bridge member Il',l engage and anchor' asegm'ental black 'of metal I8, representing a weightwconcentration or. mass at the forward end of the scalef effective concentration other than this block may be used. The tailend 'I5oftliefsidefplatesl at their. upper tip ends, 'are journalld'to provide a pivotal axis 2Q upon which 2Q ll'lcfket 2`I' is pi'votally suspended forfreeswinging'. The bracket at the top forms a pan 23 to receive the `weight to`b`e measured," such as the'illustraltive letter`disclosed or' the like. Thev lower end'of freelyfswinging bracket2l carries a block of inellaiV 24'. A pointer arni 25 is pivoted at 26 fto sidefplateA I0 and hasy a lower curved lcam surface held by 'gravity to ride in'contact with the fixed Slltl ASill;portingy suriacef The free end 28' of the armcompijifses a painter which extends to the opposite vsicieof the Acenter 'of gravity of the assembly' from the pivot 25 and sweeps the side ojf the enlarged end 'of theplat'e l0 in front of the arcuate series of graduations 3Q which latter are estafeta@ is? thissiffeeet Weisse" Whihmay be disposed on the pan and which'pointer 28 rises e as; a functies ofthe rearward reningo'f' fue 'assembly pursuant toY placing of weighton the'pan as willbe described.

It will be understood that as so far described the lower arcuate surfaces I6 ef the side plates forming the supporting surface for the assembly will come to rest on a fulcrum point or transverse line 29, at the intersection of the flat scale supporting surface tangent t0 the curve I5, when the weight represented by the center of gravity or" the mass at the enlarged end of the assembly, probably located somewhere in the block I3, on a moment of horizontal length from the vertical projection of this center of gravity to the fulcrurn point or line 29 balances the moment formed of the center of gravity of the other end of the assembly, close to if not at the pivot il), of a horizontal length from a vertical projection of the latter center of gravity to the same point or line of fulcrum contact 29. At this condition of rest aivasee when the forces form a couple, the pointer arm 25 with its curved lower surface resting en an area of scale-supporting surface has the pointer end 28 at its lower point in registration with the zero or datum calibration oi no weight on the pan. This is the normal condition of the device when at rest and not in use.

When a weight, the value of which is to be determined or ascertained in terms of the calibrations 39, is added to the self-leveling pan 23, this adds to the mass at the rear end oi the ci the fulcrum line 29. The unbalance which immediately ensues causes the assembly to roll toward the rear, leaving the fulcrumV point 2% and establishing a new iulcrum point 39 about which equilibrium is reestablishe'd and the moment at the front end balances the rearward moment. During this rolling rearward motion ofthe assembly however, the relative upward pressure of the stationary support as the pivotal axis 26 is lowered toward the table with the unbalance, causes the pointer arm 25 to move upwardly sweeping across the series ofV calibrations Si! until balanced moments occur and the pointer then registers with the appropriate calibration 3@ to measure the degree of unbalance as a function of they added weight on the pan 23.

It will be obvious that this form of invention disclosed is purely illustrative and many modincations thereof will occur to those skilled in the art.

The simplicity, cheapness andl continuing accuracy oi the device will be apparent.

I claim as my invention:

, 1. A scale comprising an assemblyl having a curvedI bottom to roll tangentially upon a fixed surface according to variation ofthe center oi gravity of said assembly, weight means at oppositersides of said center of gravity to establish an initial condition of equilibrium of said assembly, one of said weight means including a weighing pan, a pointer pivoted to said assembly at the pan side oi said center of gravity and terminating at the opposite side of said center of gravity in close proximity to rsaid other weight means, said pointer having a cam surface resting by gravity upon said iixed surface, and weight measuring means for indicating the position oi said pointer in a new condition of equilibrium caused by the weght of an object on `said pan, whereby the weight of said object is determined.

2. A scale comprising an assembly having a curved bottom to roll tangentially upon a fixed surface according to variation oi the center of gravity of said assembly, weight means at opposite sides of said center of gravity toestablish an initial condition of equilibrium of said assembly, one of said weight means including a pendulum and weighing pan pivoted to said assembly, a pointer pivoted to said assembly at the pan side of said center of gravity and terminating at the opposite side of said center of gravity in close proximity to said other weight means, said pointer having a cam surface resting by gravity upon said fixed surface, and Weight measuring means for indicating the position of said pointer in a new condition of equilibrium caused by the weight of an object on said pan, whereby the weight oi said object is determined.

3'. A scale comprising an assembly having a curved bottom to roll tangentially upon a fixed surface according to variation in the center of gravity of said assembly, weight means at opposite usides of said center of gravity to establish an initial condition of equilibrium of said assembly, one of said weight means including a pendulum and a weighing pan pivoted to said assembly, indicia graduated on the other weight means, and pointer cam means riding on said iiXed surface and responsive to variations of said center or gravity caused by the weight of an object on said pan to indicate on said indicia the weight of said object. A

4. A scale comprising an assembly formed of two spaced similarly contoured sides each Ahaving a curved bottom to roll tangentially upon a xed surface according to variation of the center of gravity and terminating at one end in a head and at the'other end in an upstanding tail, means between said heads to mount said sides in spaced relation, a weight carried by said head means, a pivot pin interconnecting said tail ends, a weighted pendulum member suspended from said pivot pin, a weighing pan carriedpby said member, said member and pan establishing an initial balanced condition of said assembly, and means including a pivoted cam-faced `pointer riding on said iixed surface and responsive to variations of said center of gravity caused by the weight of an object on said pan to indicate as a function of the weight of said object.

JOEL MALVERN BENJAMIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

` UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Morgan Aug. 21, 1945 

